Program Overview

Criminology and Criminal Justice, Ph.D.

McCausland College of Arts and Sciences

The coursework and research of the Ph.D. in Criminology and Criminal Justice emphasizes criminological theory, criminal justice system operations, research and policy.

The program is designed to provide rigorous advanced training that educates and prepares highly competent criminology and criminal justice faculty members, agency researchers and administrators.

Program Highlights

• A Notable Faculty
  • Learn from some of the nation’s leading criminology and criminal justice researchers and instructors.
• Research
  • Conduct research that is vital to designing effective policy interventions and criminal justice system practices.
• Experiential Learning
  • Enhance your knowledge through internships with local criminal justice-related agencies or organizations.
• Competitive Assistantships
  • Keep your focus on your studies and research with financial support from graduate assistantships.

What You’ll Study

Faculty interests span many crime- and criminal justice-related topics, including policing, courts, corrections, law and policy, criminological theory, sentencing, victimization and program evaluation. Graduates are trained for academia or criminal justice system roles where they can teach, research or influence policy and practice.

Building Skills

Gain the professional and personal intelligence it takes to have a successful career.

• Data Analysis
  • Examining and interpreting information to uncover insights and inform decision making
• Leadership
  • Inspiring and guiding others to achieve common goals and reach their full potential
• Public Speaking
  • Delivering a message or presentation to an audience effectively and persuasively
• Research
  • Gathering and analyzing information to increase knowledge or solve problems
• Teaching
  • Foster learning by conveying knowledge, skills and concepts to students
• Writing
  • Creating professional written content for inclusion in scholarly journal articles, books and reports

Using your degree

Make your college experience the foundation for a successful future.

Potential Careers

• Professor
• Researcher

Workplace Settings

• Research Organizations
• Social Science Research Institute
• University
• U.S. Department of Justice

Employers of Alumni

• University of South Carolina
• Notre Dame of Maryland University
• University of Nevada-Las Vegas
• University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
• University of Massachusetts Dartmouth

The faculty guided me to actively engage in research with criminal justice agencies, which brought me real-world knowledge and experience. Thanks to them, I’m able to provide my students with effective teaching while conducting research independently and collaboratively.

Siying Guo